MEXICO CITY.- Alberto Acosta, diving vice president of the Mexican Swimming Federation announced that nine national diving teams will participate in five meets of the FINA Diving Grand Prix and four events of the FINA Diving World Series, organized by the international swimming federation.

According to the results of the ¿Alvaro Gaxiola¿ Winter National Diving Championship analyzed by the Technical Diving Committee, the four meets of the World Series ¿ Russia (March 18-19), China (March 25-26), Great Britain (April 15-16) and Mexico (April 22-23) ¿ will be led by the key diving figures of the country.

South California¿s Paola Espinosa's participation in the 3-meter individual springboard and 10-meter individual platform was confirmed. Among the other participants are Yahel Castillo in the 3-meter individual and synchronized springboard (with partner Daniel Islas); Rommel Pacheco in the 10-meter individual platform; and Germán Sánchez and Iván García in the 10-meter synchronized platform.

The Jalisco¿s two-person team of Sánchez and García will be replaced by Rommel Pacheco and Jonathan Ruvalcaba at the World Series meet in Russia. Meanwhile, the Technical Diving Committee allowed two women¿s teams to participate in the fourth and final event of the World Series to be held in Mexico. The team of Mariana Mendiola and Daniela Diaz will compete in the 10-meter synchronized platform, while the pairing of Laura Sánchez and Daniela Ramírez will partake in the 3-meter synchronized springboard.

The first international participation of the season will be Feb. 18-20 at the Grand Prix event in Madrid. The women¿s team will be comprised of Carolina Mendoza and Vianey Hernández in the 3-meter springboard event; Vianey Hernandez and Celia Santilla in the 10-meter individual and synchronized platform; and Laura Sánchez and Daniela Ramírez in the 3-meter synchronized springboard.

For the men¿s team, Rommel Pacheco from Yucatán will participate in the 10-meter individual and synchronized platform, while pairing with Jonathan Ruvalcaba in the 3-meter synchronized springboard event. Additionally, Ruvalcaba and Osiris Argote will be the national representatives in the 3-meter individual springboard, while Alberto Alcantara will compete in the 10-meter platform.

For the Grand Prix event being held April 29 to May 1 in Montreal, Canada, the members of the women's team will be Laura Sánchez, Arantxa Chávez, Karla Rivas, Alejandra Orozco, Daniela Ramírez, Mariana Mendiola and Daniela Diaz. The men¿s team will feature Julián Sánchez, Kevin Chávez, Germán Sánchez, Alberto Alcantara, Yahel Castillo, Daniel Islas, Alberto Alcantara and Daniel Garduño.

For the Grand Prix meet taking place May 6-8 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in the United States, the women's team will be made up of Laura Sánchez, Arantxa Chávez, Karla Rivas, Alejandra Orozco, Daniela Ramírez, Mariana Mendiola and Daniela Diaz. The men¿s team will include Julián Sánchez, Kevin Chávez, Germán Sánchez, Alberto Alcantara, Yahel Castillo, Daniel Islas, Germán Sánchez and Iván García.

In May, the divers will compete in the national qualifying championship for the FINA World Championships in Shanghai. The results of the World Championships, which take place July 16-31, will determine slots for the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Pan American Games in Guadalajara in October.